Competition Time!
At the bottom of this post, you’ll see the score of a song. This song is in a beginner piano book. The song is called “Cycling Home”. You will need to view the post on my website to see it. (Please scroll down to the bottom of the email where you can click on “View the Post”.)
This competition has four categories. Here’s what I want you to do:
Category 1 is for beginners up to and including Grade 1. Learn the song as it’s written. You can print it out, or use the digital score on your device.
Category 2 is for Grades 2 and 3. Learn the song, and then learn it off by heart. Can you think of any way to make it more fun? Use your imagination! Experiment!
Category 3 is for Grades 4 and 5. I want you to add some extra music in the pause. Is the cyclist out of breath? Or enjoying the view from the top of the hill? How can you show this, musically? Try different ideas and find out what sounds right to you. And maybe, when you do the “D.C. al Fine”, you can change the music a little bit, so it’s different from the first time through? Try to tell the story. Use your imagination! Experiment!
Category 4 is for Grade 6 and above. Extemporise, using this song as your basic framework. What can you add? How can you develop the music? Can you vary the rhythms, the harmonies, the style and the vibe? Can you make a jazz version, a romantic version, or a baroque one? How creative can you get with “Cycling Home”? Try to tell the story. Use your imagination! Experiment!
Most of you know Kit. His students take part in our annual Showcases. He teaches drums and piano. Kit’s piano students will also be taking part in this term’s Competition, so the field has widened! It’s for all ages and all stages, so give it your best shot.
If you’re a keyboard player rather than a pianist, please bring a print-out of the song to your next lesson and I’ll show you how to adapt it. You’re in the competition too!
How does the competition work?
In your lesson during the week beginning Monday 15th June I will ask you to play me your version of “Cycling Home”. Kit will do the same with his students. We will then look at all the performances, and the winner and runner-up in each Category will get a prize!
I hope you all have fun with “Cycling Home” – I can’t wait to hear all the performances of this song! Good luck!
Cycling_HomeI’d love to know what you think of this Humoresque. You can put a comment in the box below this post, or you can email me directly. I read and respond to everything.
Humoresque is available to anyone who might be interested. You don’t have to be one of my pupils, or even learning music. If you know anyone who might be interested in subscribing to Humoresque, please let me know. I will only need their name and their email address. Thanks.
Humoresque = a whimsical or fanciful piece of music. Be whimsical, be fanciful, but play in time!
This is Humoresque Number 35